Reassess Udaipur Files by Aug 6, Court directs Centre

The Delhi HC has directed the Centre to re-evaluate its stance on the film ‘Udaipur Files’ and deliver a fresh decision on its release by August 6. The court’s instruction comes after the government withdrew its earlier directive suggesting changes to the film.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked the government to hear all stakeholders on August 4 and arrive at a lawful conclusion before the proposed release date of August 8.

The movie was originally set for release on July 11. But Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani and Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the 2022 killing of Rajasthan tailor Kanhaiya Lal, filed petitions against the film. They have argued that the film unfairly targets the Muslim community and may prejudice the ongoing trial in the case.

In an earlier hearing, the HC had also questioned the Centre’s authority to demand edits using its revisional jurisdiction under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act.